Forethought 2002 log

The year was a less busy year for the boat. We made a cost-saving decision to keep the boat on a river mooring at the Royal Southern.
The effect of this was to begin to rip out the stern cleats on the chop in the Hamble where the stern line was too short and the boat pitched where other boats did not. The gooseneck was noticeably more worn with the rolling of the boat.
The gel coat suffered from the battering it got from the miscellaneous tenders that the club loans to members.

We avoided a breakin, when somebody went down the river checking lockers and cockpit tidies for keys and then going inside: the boat in front lost its winches. I noted that all the halyard ends were pulled out of the tidies when I came to the boat.

Easter : We managed to be at Cowes on the day of the Queen Mother's death . We visited Osbourne house and the children were very confused about who had died and when.
As it was Easter it was also a 'birthday, as there is a cake involved'.
In fact we call East Cowes "Easter Cowes" and try to make a trip which is entitled "Happy Birthday Easter Cowes". This is named from Catrina's naming the year before.

Queens Jubilee bank holiday: we went to Weymouth for the weekend, staying in the marina for 3 nights, as the weather went from hot and sunny to torrential rain. I can still remember watching the Buckingham Palace classical music concert on a WinTV USB connected to the laptop PC. Needless to say without shore power, we totally hammered the batteries, being forced to run the engine to try to keep up.
On the way back , we nearly ran into Kimmeridge ledges : the charts and the pilot books are all a bit vague, our decision to turn seawards was encouraged by a dive boat with lots of divers around it which was in our path. Looked at the echo sounder and saw the trace as we crossed the edge of the ledge.
Got to Poole too early : Dolphin Marina was full as people hadnt left before lunch.
Tried Cobbs Quay Marina which features buildings built on shallow foundations on reclaimed marsh. The old toilet block was about a foot lower at the front than the back. This was being replaced as we were there. Definitely a quieter backwater with much more 'peoples' boats : Macgregor 26's and small boats long since departed from the Hamble marinas.
We took a taxi into town and walked back. Quite a long walk, I think that the Dolphin marina is much better sited for the town, although it costs more. Later on the afternoon of our arrival we heard other smaller boats negotiating to fill up small gaps at Dolphin Marina. We should have waited outside.

Page � Mike James 20 March 2003

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